not sure I get it

For many years now I have given self-striping sock yarns a miss. Early versions seemed to me frankly ugly. Now self-striping socks are all over the place so I'm used to the look but I still didn't think it was anything I was going to try soon. Then a combination of circumstances forced my hand...

1. The need for plain yet somehow interesting knitting to take to lectures, aka inability to knit any kind of pattern in the dark.
2. A new pair of winter boots that come halfway up my calf. For waterproofing and warmth, these are the bumblebee's rollerskates, but they have a lamentable habit of abrading my stockings right at the boot tops. This induced a need for kneesocks to protect my leg and stocking all the way above the boot tops.
3. Expense of ordinary good quality yarn in sufficient quantity to make a pair of knee socks: too much.
4. KnitPicks had a sale on sock yarn. Self-striping merino sock yarn.

So I bought some wacko colored yarn for making socks. I began with a blend called "Flower Power".

Basic, basic sock. As I was knitting the first one I got a part of it. It is kind of fascinating to knit along absently and see what kind of pattern comes out below the needles. You may not like the pattern, but it can still be fascinating. When I got to the ankle part, I thought the stripes were fine. For a pair of utilitarian, warm, simply knit socks, perfectly fine. My fixation on kneesocks and the width of my calves is what causes the psychadelic crescent near the top. Eh, I can live with it. Most of it will be hidden under boots or under skirt when these socks are worn. For a cheap pair of socks, this is fine. The part I don't get is--is this really attractive, or just fun to knit? And why would I ever pay non-sale type money for yarn like this? Especially since to keep the pattern consistent you can't put any shaping in the sock?

To cut out the verbage, I confess I thought the sock was pretty ugly. Useful, useable, but ugly. No offense to anyone else! I love bright colors, so it's not that... this sock just makes me aesthetically uneasy somehow. Imagine my surprise when three different people, non-knitter people but presumably sock-wearing people, commented on my growing sock.

"Wow, pretty colors."
"I really like that, it's a cool pattern."
"What have you got there? Oh, neat! Love the color combination."

?? Ok, I guess it's just me. Meet my self-patterning wild socks. Guess I'll finish the pair and keep them ready for the first boots-on day of next year. And I do like the ankle stripes.

Non-Fiber content: It strikes me as absurd, in a BAD way, that the New York Times cannot report on the coolest fossil found in the past decade without bringing up the creationist perspective. WHY do we have to keep having this argument? Why does it get mainline press treatment? Why does an article that's supposed to be reporting on science have to kowtow to a segment of the population that stolidly ignores more than a century of scientific inquiry? Am I the only one puzzled, even enraged by this??

Comments

[Mom]

No you are not the only one engraged by this story. Enough already folks.
And I LOVE THE SOCKS! Matter of fact I bought the same color for socks for you and guess I will not use it for me. Jerry also loves the crazy socks. I think you would look great in them. I hope what I send you will wear. they are shorter not knee socks. I love working with the yarn from knitpics but the gauge has me baffaled sometimes. Talk with you soon. Love

[claudia]

Its not just you.

And, I never put shaping in my self-striping/patterning socks for just this reason.

[Mardel]

I't certainly not just you (on either issue). It's a tough call; need for socks, knitting entertainment, vs beauty and the joy in the wearing.

[Emily]

I'm not big on self-patterning yarns (socks or otherwise) either. I bought some at one time, so I am now trying to use it up, but it really isn't my favorite.

I also agree about the article. Science and religion are two different things. Keep them separate.

[diana]

Enh, not crazy about the colors. But the kneesocks are lovely and I'm dying to see the new boots!